Cables
 

Is there a recommendation on brand of cables? Are all brand of cables compatible with Shimano. Wanting to recable shifters myself to save money and learn how to do it. I can buy cables on Ebay cheaper than LBS. There are local groups here where you can work on your bike under the supervision of a mechanic but you do the work. Thinking about going that route for the learning experience.

I have had good luck with Jagwire and Shimano cables; most brands are OK, just be sure to get lined housings and die-drawn stainless inner wires. The Bell cable sets from XMart are of low-ish quality but will work in a pinch or if you are short on $$. On the high end you can spend as much as you want, but the performance increase, if any, is not commensurate with the cost, IMO.

Just be sure to use ONLY brake cable and housing for brakes, NEVER shifter housing, it could fail under the forces of braking, which it is not designed to withstand. Brake cable housing on derailleurs won't work well but is not a safety issue.

Your idea of going to get some hands-on training is an excellent one.

I second all of the above, especially going to the co-op for hands on. They probably have cables to sel and can use the income, so consider giving them the business, which also ensures that you get the right stuff.

What groupset are you running?

Jagwire cables and housing are great. Save the old housing to use as a length guide for the new housing and always go a little longer if you're in doubt. Also housing that's even a little too short can cause problems. For example, I didn't leave enough play with the housing between the handlebar and the front cable stop on the top tube once and I couldn't turn my handlebar all the way to the side. I like to change one cable at a time (i.e. left brake, then left shifter, right brake, right shifter).

Jagwire Pro Road set readily available at online stores and on ebay. Price around $35 can't be beat for all you get in the full shifter and brake kit. Top notch performance.

Shimano Tiagra

Thanks guys! I've seen the Jagwire on Ebay. The local co-op's here don't sell parts but there are some good guys at both of them.

I use all Shimano components on my bikes (Sora/Tiagra on one, and 105/Ultegra on the other). Typically I just buy whatever they have at one of the millions of LBS's in the city. They usually have bulk cables they sell for like 6, or so, dollars each. I have no idea what they are but they seem to work fine.

They're like guitar strings--some are probably better than others, but if you don't care, and the price is right, they all sound the same.

+1
Always best to learn to do your own repairs. If you can't fix it... you don't really own it. You're just renting it from the repairman. YouTube videos, some tools, a couple bicycle repair books, and a little instruction and you'll be good to go. It is very liberating to be able to fix the bicycle yourself.

In that case I don't think it matters as much. The Shimano shifters with the external cable routing aren't as sensitive to friction as the newer 10/11sp stuff. Pretty much any halfway decent housing and inner cable will work just fine.

I like Jagwire and the Shimano XTR/Dura-Ace grade cable kits are also good quality. I avoid Bontrager and the REI branded Jagwire because REI cheaps out and uses plastic ferrules instead of metal. Also get a decent cable cutter or use the co-op shop's cutter, it makes a big difference.